Month: October 2013

This year’s big sword event, the Dai Token Ichi 2013 has come to an end. We were lucky enough that we didn’t have the full effect of Typhoon 27 hit Tokyo with full force.
The rain we had was not as bad as with #26, and so a lot of people made the journey to Tokyo.
Thanks to the previous work carried out this year at several events as well as our website, we had a lot of customers coming to our booth. These facts lead to a new record in sales. However, I still feel there some things that we can improve to become a little better. I hope to be able to see the results of these improvements next year.
I would also like to thank those who came and visited us.
It is much appreciated.

Oct. 14th I hosted a small basic lecture on Japanese swords at the shop in Noda for some friends and sword enthusiasts from abroad.
There were two things I wanted to convey that were especially important to me.
The first, that Japanese swords are not only weapons, but also are said to inhabit a soul, and therefore should be treated with respect when handled by anyone.
Secondly, that swords from different time periods have different shapes and features, and can therefore give us a hint as to by whom and where they were made, as well as when.
At the moment, I need an interpreter to help me with events like this. But it is my hope that I will, one day, be able to convey my thoughts and the facts about Japanese swords and thus help spread the knowledge and appreciation for this part of my culture to people that are from places other than Japan.

Later at night, I asked my friends to join me for dinner at a local Sushi restaurant. It was a pleasure to see foreigners delight over Japanese food and drink, as well as hearing their thoughts and stories mixed with our laughter.
I feel a new form of connection to my foreign friends as well as gratitude for their friendship and enthusiasm.

This year, I attend my 4th annual Dai Token Ichi in Tokyo. The previous 3 years, I have felt embarrassed about how poorly the English translation of the Japanese catalog has been. It was more or less useless to English speakers and Japanese alike, so this year, I volunteered to help produce a translation that would better explain the items on display at the venue.
Though, pressured by an extremely short time to do this, we finally were able to create something that will more easily explain what, and where something, is on display.
Had we had some more time to do this job correctly, the outcome, I feel confident, would have been much better. But, all things considered, I think we did a pretty good job with the circumstances we were given.
It is my hope and wish that this catalog will further help anyone that reads it to appreciate the items at the Dai Token Ichi this year.

In a few weeks, it is time for Dai Token Ichi 2013, the largest sword event in Japan.
Touken Matsumoto will partake, displaying around 80 carefully selected swords as well as a variety of fittings.
This year 74 different sword traders will display some of their best items in the Tokyo Bijutsu Club Bldg. in Shimbashi, Tokyo.
I look forward to meeting all of our friends and customers at the event.　And, I am sure, this year will be especially interesting and successful for all participants and would like to encourage everyone to come, see, listen and learn about the Japanese sword and its many related items.

Yoshiyuki Matsumoto